They walked themselves into exhaustion, calling for Sheegwa until their lungs were strained. Again, their efforts were fruitless. That night, they slept in a tree. Fu-Fu hung near Sagwa, and the pair chatted quietly as sleep eluded her.

"This is all my fault. If I hadn't - "

"Sagwa," he said disapprovingly. "You didn't mean to get her lost! Accidents happen!"

"This accident could have been prevented." She scoffed at herself. "I was so stupid, Fu-Fu! I literally told her to go outside."

"Because you thought you would be right behind her. You said it yourself, you promised to take care of her."

"Yeah. Now look," she said miserably.

"Hey. You couldn't have prevented yourself from being a big sister."

Sagwa smiled a little.

"I'm sorry - " Dongwa suddenly jumped down onto her branch, "You were sneaking off together?"

"Yeah," she confessed apologetically.

"Why didn't you include anyone else?"

"I tried." Sagwa looked at Fu-Fu, wishing he could back her up. "But, Nai-Nai..." her voice failed and she shrugged lamely.

"Oh, is that what you were trying to say." He chuckled. "Maybe you need to try joining me in the art of kung-fu. You'll never see me flinch under pressure!"

"Dongwa, let her sleep!" Mama called warningly from above.

"Y-yes, Mama," he stammered, visibly intimidated. He jumped back up onto his own branch.

Sagwa smiled at Fu-Fu. "Yeah. There's a fearless alpha male."

Fu-Fu laughed quietly. "Well, I gotta get back to the cave. I lost a bet and made tonight's cleanup crew. Sleep tight!"

"'Bye," she whispered, and watched him detach from the tree and fly into the darkness. She put her head down and thought of her family, and how different it was from her idealized world.

-0-0-0-0-

On the ground, Baba paced restlessly, his eyes narrow as he surveyed his sleeping loved ones. He couldn't take it anymore!

"Good morning, everybody!" he called. "The search continues!"

Sagwa groaned, but hopped obediently from the tree. "After we find Sheegwa, can we look for all the sleep I lost?"

"Sagwa, please. I am in no mood for humor."

She answered through a yawn, "I wasn't kidding around."

His eyes narrowed at her, and he leaned down to make their eyes level. He spoke with a quiet intensity. "Sagwa. This isn't any easier on your mother, or me. She is your sister, so stop complaining. We never leave one of our own, alone!" He rose up and stalked away from her.

Sagwa glared at his backside and followed him, ears low and tail limp. It wasn't bad enough to be homeless and have a missing sibling; now she had him breathing down her neck?

Dongwa and Mama surveyed Sagwa's unmistakable Angry Walk, exchanging a look between them.

"Aren't you gonna do something?" he asked.

"No," she said calmly. "When your father is ready to talk, he'll come to me."

"I've never seen him be so...irrational before."

"He hasn't lost his parents or his kitten before. Trust me, Dongwa, it's taking my all to keep myself from being the same way."

"But why stop it?"

She forced herself to smile at him. "One of us needs to think with our head. Today is my turn," she added mysteriously.

Dongwa looked down at the ground as they walked. "I...can't believe you ever let your heart guide you."

She smiled. "Well, I have."

"What happened?"

Her laughter floated around them. "I found your father!"

His chuckle joined hers, and Sagwa's ears craned back as she listened to the sound of their joy.

"And it is because he's following his heart now," Mama continued, "That I know we'll find your sister."

"Well...I still wish we had tracks to follow. I like things I can see."

She spared him a quick smile, then returned her eyes to her path. "I can't imagine she went too far. We'll likely search all directions."

"I think Sagwa had the right idea; cover more ground."

"None of us are wearing collars...we can't afford to lose the search party."

"Hm, true," Dongwa grumbled, and tauntingly raised his voice, "It would be awful if she's never found because her family members got captured."

Mama frowned as Sagwa's ears pricked all the way forward and her agitated groan came to her on the wind. She burst into a trot, easily catching up to her meandering daughter; whom she restrained. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Baba turned around as Dongwa, Hun-Hun and Jet-Jet caught up to Sagwa and Mama.

Sagwa's nervous eyes passed from parent to parent. "Uh, well...it's kind of a funny story..."

"I don't think it will be," Mama answered. Her mate was swiftly advancing on them.

Sagwa spared a brief glower at Dongwa, who almost seemed apologetic. "Well - Sheegwa came to me one night saying she hated the palace, and I kind of said I'd...protect her even if...we had to leave," she falteringly concluded.

"So you told her to go outside," Baba inferred. "And then what? Did you close the window on her?"

"No!" Sagwa yelped, hopping anxiously with her front paws. "I-I gave her my word I would look after her!"

He withdrew, eyes going wide and then narrowing again. "Well, you are off to a terrible start," he hissed.

Sagwa could feel her temper flaring. Her ears cranked low and suddenly she found herself shouting at her father. "You know, just because it's difficult for you does not mean it's easy on me! I was in a cage and you know it, so...so leave me alone!"

Suddenly she remembered who she was talking to. Her anger evaporated like steam, but she could see his anger continuing to rise. Shaking internally with terror, her eyes shot to Mama's.

Dongwa leaned closer to her as Baba started hissing. "Will you do something now?" he muttered urgently.

Before she could decide, Sagwa turned around and ran away.

Mama turned to Jet-Jet and advanced, looking into his eyes. "Will you please go after her?"

Jet-Jet didn't understand why, but her gentleness was more frightening to him than her mate's rage. "Yes ma'am," he said succinctly, and he turned and followed her away from the rest.

She ran quickly, but didn't stray far. Jet-Jet stopped in the shadows, watching her pace and kick a rock into the nearby pond. Her anger was like a lantern, burning hot on a short fuse and then, all at once, it went out. Completely surprising him, she lay down and began to weep.

He walked slowly to her and sat down beside her. It was a beautiful spot, and very quiet; all he could hear were her cries and the wind sweeping his fluffy tail. He was quiet, allowing her to feel his presence without hearing it. Mostly because he didn't know what she needed to hear. When he was feeling miserable, he preferred to be alone. He had never seen her this upset.

She pulled herself into a sitting position and wouldn't look at him. "Why are you here?"

"I was asked to follow you." He looked at her, suddenly wondering if he'd misread their situation. "Do you not want me here?"

"No, I'd rather have pretty things," she spat.

He tilted his head in acknowledgement. "Okay, I deserved that."

Sagwa was quiet, keeping her eyes trained on the breaking dawn.

"Your family needs you."

She scoffed, but her expression slowly changed as she thought about her mother and sister. Sure, her father was horribly angry and her brother was the reason, but she couldn't bring herself to split up the family even more. And if Sheegwa wasn't angry with her now, then she wanted to keep it that way.

When Jet-Jet stood up and began walking back the way he came, she went with him.